Boeheim, Pitino Go Way Back

No. 6 Syracuse Visits No. 1 Louisville On Saturday

When Jim Boeheim became coach at Syracuse in 1976, he hired a young assistant coach from the University of Hawaii.

That was the start of his relationship with Rick Pitino.

"We've been friends ever since," Boeheim said on the Big East Conference media conference call Thursday. "Obviously, we've battled hard on the court, but we've always been friends."

The friends and adversaries renew acquaintances Saturday, when No. 1 Louisville hosts No. 6 Syracuse at 4 p.m. on ESPN. Both teams are 16-1, both are 4-0 in the Big East and both have national title aspirations.

And both have marquee names on the bench. Boeheim said he and Pitino have remained close despite taking divergent career paths — Boeheim never left Syracuse, Pitino has bounced around the country with jobs in college and the NBA.

They've played lots of golf, shared many meals and even vacationed together, Boeheim said.

"I have the greatest respect for Rick as a person and as a coach," Boeheim said. "He's a fun guy to be around. We have a lot of fun when we're together.

"On the basketball court, I don't think there's a better coach. I think he should be in the Hall of Fame, probably will be in the Hall of Fame soon. He has just an unbelievable coaching record. His teams are the best prepared teams that you ever play against. They also do the most different things to prepare for. Very difficult coach to prepare for."

Pitino has 640 career wins.

Since taking over as the No. 1 team in the country, Louisville beat UConn Monday night in Hartford. The Cardinals, whose only loss came to Duke, are among the deepest teams in the country.

"They do everything well," Boeheim said. "They really don't have a weakness. … I think last year they were a little bit younger, their guards were good. Now this year, I think their guards are great. The best backcourt in the country, probably."

Brey On Te'o

Notre Dame coach Mike Brey was asked for his reaction to the Manti Te'o story. Deadspin.com reported Wednesday that the story involving Te'o's dying girlfriend was a hoax.

"I think it's a little mind-blowing for all of us," Brey said. "I have spent a little bit of time with him, always been impressed with him as a stand-up, up-front, what-you-see-is-what-you-get guy. I don't think our players or us have really been able to get our arms around it and maybe that goes for everybody in this whole thing."

Notre Dame (14-3) hosts Rutgers (11-4) Saturday and Brey is trying to keep his players focused on their opponent.

"It's kind of confusing," Brey said. "I'd just rather it not be a distraction here for our basketball team over the next two days because we have a very important game on Saturday. "

Pitt Preps For UConn

Pittsburgh coach Jamie Dixon said he began preparing for Saturday's game against UConn as soon as the Panthers completed their 58-43 win over Villanova Wednesday. After watching video of the Huskies, Dixon is focused on UConn's backcourt. "Their guards are the key," Dixon said. "[Ryan] Boatright and [Shabazz] Napier have got to be as quick a [set of] guards as there are in the country. The combination of those two, [they're] dangerous in transition, first and foremost. Have to contain them and make them play in the half-court offense, as with most teams in our league. But this team especially, because of what those two guys can do." … Syracuse will retire Carmelo Anthony's No. 15 Feb. 23 at the Carrier Dome. Anthony led the Orange to the 2003 national championship as a freshman, his only year at Syracuse. He'll be the 10th player thus honored by the school, following Dave Bing (22), Derrick Coleman (44), Sherman Douglas (20), Bill Gabor (17), Billy Owens (30), Vic Hanson (8), Rony Seikaly (4), Pearl Washington (31) and Wilmeth Sidat-Singh (19).